By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Bolivar soccer team will have many of the same players as last year’s squad.
That’s about where the similarities end.
As one of the six founding members of the new Ozark Mountain Conference, the Liberators will have a new slate of conference opponents — and a new coach guiding them through the change.
Jason Ingold has taken the reins from Steve Fast, who ended a 28-year run at the helm.
Ingold is no stranger to Bolivar — he played collegiate soccer at Southwest Baptist University, and began his coaching career as an assistant on Fast’s staff while still enrolled there.
After graduating, the Kansas City native went on to lead the Camdenton soccer program for nine seasons before transitioning into an eight-year run in school administration. When the Bolivar job came available, Ingold was excited about the opportunity to return to the sidelines.
Ingold said Fast and longtime assistant coach Jeff Edge “laid a tremendous foundation” for the Liberators and said he was honored to be selected to “follow in their footsteps.”
“Our family loves Bolivar and this was a great opportunity to return ‘home,’” Ingold said. “This community has given our family so much and each of us are ecstatic that we’re becoming Liberators again. Plus, the Bolivar soccer program has a solid reputation and the opportunity to lead these young men was one I couldn’t pass up. There are great families within the program both now and upcoming, so it’s easy to be excited for the present and the future.”
The Liberators will also have two new assistant coaches with Bolivar connections. Zach Waters played at SBU, while Zach Warwick suited up for the Liberators in high school.
The trio envisions a soccer program based on character, commitment and community.
“Our team will hold high standards of both character and effort,” Ingold said. “We expect that players put the team ahead of themselves, are prepared to compete and get better every day — and are ready to do the extra work in order to achieve our goals.”
There’s a bit more work to be done this offseason than usual, as the Liberators are preparing to make the move to the Ozark Mountain Conference. They’ve built a non-conference schedule involving several former Ozark Conference schools, but are looking forward to the challenges that come with competing in an all-new league.
“While it was very beneficial for us to be a part of the Ozark Conference for the past few years, we’re excited for the opportunity to compete in the new Ozark Mountain Conference,” Ingold said. “It’s important to us as we develop the schedule to ensure that we keep our traditional rivalries, but developing some new traditions and rivalries are things we’re looking forward to.”
Despite the turnover in the staff and conference, the roster will look largely the same as last fall’s team that finished 16-9. The Liberators return six players who earned postseason honors.
Seniors Jordan Burke (midfielder/defender) and Kyler Rowe (midfielder) and juniors Brayden Burke (defender) and Matt Giglio (forward/midfielder) were all-conference and all-district selections. Junior keeper Wyatt Viles was an all-district selection, while senior Connor McClellan (midfielder/defender) was an all-conference honoree.
“We’re fortunate to return so many experienced student athletes from last year,” Ingold said. “We’ll lean on them as our leaders on the field this season and are hopeful that they continue to see success.”
Michael Poterbin (defender), Nate Clark (midfielder/defender), Cooper Bethell (midfielder/forward), Tucker Calvert (midfielder/forward), Chris Jordan (midfielder/forward), Ryver Manes (midfielder) and Sheldon Avery (keeper) round out a 10-player senior class.
Junior Canyon Adams (forward/defender) and sophomores Nathan Lobdell (forward), Xavier Cox (forward) and Peyton Cole all have the opportunity to contribute to the varsity.
“We’ve used the summer to help determine the overall strengths of the team and what strengths each player currently holds,” Ingold said. “Additionally, we’re looking at how all the pieces should fit together in order for our team to be as successful as possible.”
The Liberators will host Branson, Camdenton and Lebanon in an August 27 jamboree. Their home and regular-season opener is scheduled for September 5 against Greenwood.
“I believe the team’s biggest strength is that they are collectively hungry,” Ingold said. “Through our summer contact days, you can see their desire to improve, learn and compete.”
